Robot-assisted therapy for improving social interactions and activity participation among institutionalized older adults: a pilot study.
Journal:
Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists
PMID:
24692085
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Animal-assisted therapy is gaining popularity as part of therapeutic activities for older adults in many long-term care facilities. However, concerns about dog bites, allergic responses to pets, disease, and insufficient available resources to care for a real pet have led to many residential care facilities to ban this therapy. There are situations where a substitute artificial companion, such as robotic pet, may serve as a better alternative.